McClatchy, then just 33, led a group of investors that bought the franchise in 1996, becoming the youngest owner in Major League Baseball. During his 11 years with the franchise, he kept his sexuality a closely guarded secret.

In fact, McClatchy didn’t go public with the truth until sitting down for the interview with The Times. That was partially because he heard homophobic slurs during his days in baseball

“I’m sure people will criticize me because I came out later, and I should have come out while I was in baseball and in the thick of it. …(But) I could find excuses for why not to do this article until I’m blue in the face,” he told the newspaper.

McClatchy added that he hopes his honesty will help bring about change in a sports culture that has been slow to accept gay athletes, coaches and executive. Just this past week, for example, Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Yunel Escobar was suspended three games for writing a gay slur on his eye black.

“You’re not going to solve any problem until you start a dialogue,” McClatchy told The Times. “And there’s no dialogue right now.”

McClatchy stepped down as lead member in the Pirates ownership syndicate on Jan. 12, 2007. Robert Nutting replaced him.